Race Director Georg Zipfel keen to make most of Paralympic global audience

Ahead of the imminent Paralympic Winter Games, we are catching up with the Race Directors of the three FIS disciplines represented at Milano Cortina: Para Alpine, Para Cross-Country, and Para Snowboard.

Para Alpine Race Director Anja Skutelj looks ahead to "amazing" Winter Paralympics

Georg Zipfel has been Para Cross-Country Race Director since August 2022. And the German is determined that these Paralympics spark greater interest and participation in Para Cross-Country.

There were only three stops in this year’s Para Cross-Country World Cup. How pleased were you with the races you had, and can we expect more in coming seasons?

Zipfel: The competitions we had were organized and conducted at either a good or very good level. Unfortunately, as you say, there were only three stops. On top of that, there was a break of over 30 days between the first two - Canmore (CAN) in early December, and Finsterau (GER) in mid-January.

There is also a break of more than 30 days between the final stop in Jakuszyce (POL) and the Winter Paralympics. This means that Para Cross-Country Skiing has not been visible during the prime time of winter for over two months, and this is far from satisfactory. We need organizers to conduct and promote our sport, and we need TV and media interest to gain attention and attract sponsors.

What work is being done to increase the number of competitors in World Cup events?

Zipfel: We do have low participation of athletes and we must accelerate the FIS development program especially for athlete with disabilities. In competitive sports, you have a pyramid system where you find and nurture talent to reach the top in the short, medium and long term. In Para sports, I speak of us having a ‘Para volcano’ system!

Everything revolves around the World Cup and especially the Winter Paralympics with its global TV audience. We must show young people with disabilities how to ski using either the Sitski or a Vizsla (dog) or a guide. What comes next is open!

Val di Fiemme is hosting Para Cross-Country at the Winter Paralympics. What do you think of the venue and how happy are you with preparations?

Zipfel: I’ve known Val di Fiemme for over 30 years, initially as the German national Cross-Country Skiing coach. As a Continental Cup coordinator, I’ve experienced and helped organize many competitions there! The Skiathlon I developed was held for first time at a World Championships at Val di Fiemme in 2003.

The organizing committee has gained a wealth of experience from numerous major international events. This is evident in the annual Tour de Ski and the recent Olympic Winter Games. During the Winter Olympics, I was in frequent contact with the highly professional preparation team and the Head of Competition.

There is currently sufficient snow to prepare the Para courses fairly, and we are prepared for all weather conditions. The Winter Paralympics will have an excellent stadium and courses, as well as good infrastructure. I’m focused, but still relaxed!

Which athletes and storylines are you most excited about for the Winter Paralympics?

Zipfel: My main focus is on the Sitting ski categories. It’s incredibly impressive how they control their Sitskis, and the jury’s big task is to make the courses fair and safe for all athletes. The Winter Paralympics will surely produce some wonderful and interesting stories, and we have fascinating athletes in all categories.

What are you most excited for Winter Sports fans to discover about Para Cross-Country Skiing at the Paralympic Games?

Zipfel: In general, we need to try and make Para Sports understandable to the public so they can grasp what the performances and results mean. Para Cross-Country is no exception and, as I say, we have athletes with fascinating back stories in all categories.

The Winter Paralympics give us the opportunity to bring Para Cross-Country to a global audience. We need spectacular TV images that show our athletes in action and, hopefully, experienced stadium announcers and TV commentators to make the action easier for viewers to understand.

We’ve optimized the layout of the individual competition formats. For example, the Sprint start now has the same look and feel as FIS Cross-Country Skiing. And for the French Alps Games in 2030, we have plans for Para Skiathlon and Team Sprint.

My goal is to expand the profile of Para Cross-Country and increase audiences as well as participation. With the help of the FIS team, the Para athletes, their support staff, coaches and national federations, I believe we can achieve it.